Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly denied allegations made by the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regarding the presence of animal fats, including lard, beef tallow, and fish oil, in the ghee used to prepare the famous Tirupati laddoos during his tenure.
Reddy criticized current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of “politics in the name of God” and attempting to distract from pressing issues. Reddy clarified that the allegations stem from a lab report dated July, when Naidu was already in office. “We immediately flagged the quality concerns and informed Naidu’s administration,” he stated.
Reddy explained that the tender process for sourcing ghee for the laddoos follows strict guidelines, with suppliers required to provide certification from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). He emphasized that his government had rejected substandard ghee products 18 times during his tenure.
The controversy escalated after a Gujarat-based lab, NDDB CALF Ltd, reported that ghee used in the laddoos contained animal fats. The TDP spokesperson, Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, shared the lab report, alleging adulteration in the sacred prasad.
In response, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has spoken to Chief Minister Naidu, requesting a formal investigation and report on the issue.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has labeled the accusations as baseless and politically motivated, reiterating that his administration followed all protocols.
